After Gestational Diabetes: An Overlooked Care Transition in Primary Care

Abstract Women with history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have significant risk for developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), especially within 6 years of giving birth. Children exposed to GDM-complicated pregnancies may also experience future metabolic abnormalities. Care transitions following GDM-complicated pregnancies are often fragmented resulting in missed opportunities to implement T2D prevention strategies. Primary care providers of women with history of GDM and their children have opportunities to deliver transgenerational health promotion interventions encompassing: T2D screening, reproductive life planning, lifestyle changes to support reduction of GDM-related metabolic risks, self-advocacy for lifelong T2D screening, weight management, and promotion of breastfeeding.